It took less than 24 hours for Bill to hear back from Patrick O'Reilly regarding the situation about Jack Thornton Sr. O'Reilly was not pleased with what was happening and now Bill had the name of the former recruit who was accusing Jack of negligence. Hamish Moriarty. He knew better than to ask more of O'Reilly, so he then called in a few favors, and was able to find out the Moriarty was now located in Benson Hills.

After meeting with Rosemary, Elizabeth and Nathan at the Thornton house, Bill made plans to head to Benson Hills in search of Moriarty.

He'd barely cleared the Thornton's front porch when he heard a familiar voice calling after him...

"Bill!" Rosemary called, firmly. He stopped and turned towards her, waiting for what he knew was coming.

"I'm going with you. I have sources there that might be more receptive to talking with me in person. I can be ready quickly. And before you protest, Lee and I have already discussed this and he's prepared to do whatever it takes to make it happen."

The grumpy, independent part of him wanted no part of this, but the shrewd, results oriented part of him won out. Rosemary knew her stuff and not keeping her in the loop had gotten her taken hostage last time. That could and should have been prevented. "Alright, but you need to listen to me."

"If you make sense and remain transparent, Bill, I will." Rosemary replied tartly, eyebrow raised, just waiting for any shred of kick back.

Bill sighed. "Okay. That's fair. I'm sorry, Rosemary." He held out his hand to her. "Partners...again?"

After a very brief hesitation, Rosemary grasped Bill's hand. "Okay, Bill. Let's do this again. Let's go and make sure that no one tarnishes Jack's good name and the legacy he's left to his son. Follow me, let's go and talk to Lee about using his car." With that, she turned towards home.

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Inside the Thornton's, Nathan and Elizabeth sat together on her settee. He put his arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder with a sigh. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, then she remembered what he'd brought inside when he first arrived. She turned to look at the kitchen table.

"Um...so what's in that big basket?"

"Oh, that! Why don't you go take a look?" he replied with a small grin.

Like a little girl, she hopped up and rushed to the table. Inside was what seemed like a mountain of food. As she began to pull out items, Nathan joined her to help.

"I had Minnie put together dinner and a few other things that you can reheat tomorrow. I wanted to make things a little easier on you for a few days. There's beef stew, biscuits..."

Before he could continue, she'd turned and grabbed his suspenders - pulling him to her. "Nathan...thank you." she whispered and claimed his lips in a gentle kiss.

Not one to pass up a chance to share a kiss with this woman, he clasped his hands at her waist and pulled her tightly against him.

Elizabeth reached her hands up on either side of his face and deepened the kiss. The two finally pulled back, breathing heavily. She could, quite literally, do this all day long. She may not survive it, but she'd die a happy woman.

Nathan chuckled. "Well, if this is what happens, I'll gladly bring you a basket of food every single day for the rest of our lives."

She gasped. 'For the rest of their lives.' She looked up at him through her lashes, her cheeks flushed at what she was thinking. It's not like he proposed or anything, but...

He didn't back off or cover it up, he just gazed at her with those baby blue eyes that could see right through to her soul. "In case you're wondering, I meant what I said, every single word."

Her mouth dropped open and they gazed into each others eyes until the door opened, bringing Allie and Jack in. The couple tried to look casual as they turned back to unloading the contents of the dinner basket. By the smirk on Allie's face, it looked like at least one of the kids wasn't fooled.

Jack ran to the kitchen "Mama, Mountie Nathan! We're home! What's for dinner? Is that dinner? We played at the playground and I jumped rope! I also caught a frog, but Allie said I had to let it go!"

Elizabeth shot a look at Nathan who grinned indulgently at Jack. He well remembered Allie at this age and they matched in enthusiasm for life. Actually, Allie was quite like this not that long ago when trying to convince him to pay for the choir festival...

"Some of this is dinner, Jack. Some is for tomorrow. Why don't you and Allie wash up and we can set the table for dinner." She looked at Nathan. "You two are staying, yes?"

He grinned. "I thought you'd never ask! What can I do to help?"

She grinned back and put him to work. Thus, the second of many Grant - Thornton family dinners began.

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Elizabeth and Nathan cleaned up after dinner while Allie and Jack took Scout outside to play and do his business. Once they were finished with the clean up, she grabbed a wrap and the two of them went outside to the front porch and sat down. No words were necessary. This was exactly where both of them wanted to be. Nathan wrapped an arm around Elizabeth and she snuggled in with a happy sigh.

After a little while, Elizabeth figured she needed to start to corral Jack to get him ready for bed, and he fussed about wanting Allie to do it. "Is that alright with you, Allie?" Elizabeth asked. She was not going to force the girl to do it. Allie already so willingly took care of the little boy.

Allie glanced between the two adults with a small, yet somewhat calculating smile and said, "Of course it is. I don't mind at all." She put her arm around Jack and handed Nathan Scout's lead. "Get ready for the best story you've ever heard, Jack!"

"Yay!" Jack shouted, after kissing his mother, he hesitated then popped a kiss on Nathan's cheek with a giggle and followed Allie inside. After lapping up some water from his bowl, Scout walked over and curled up at Elizabeth's side, traitorous dog that he was.

Nathan's heart tumbled a little as he fell even more for the fatherless little boy who'd had his heart just as much as the boy's mother for years.

Elizabeth smiled. "I've said this before, but that was really sweet of Allie."

Nathan chuckled. "You caught that flash of calculation in her eyes, did you?"

She settled back in next to him, as close as she could get. "I most definitely did. I recognize an ally when I see one!"

"She seems to have an agenda these days. I happen to like this particular agenda, so I'll let her think she's getting away with something."

"I think that's a grand idea, Nathan." Elizabeth laughed. After a few quiet moments, she spoke again. "I want you to know that I truly am okay, Nathan. I don't want you to worry that my silence on the subject of this business about Ft Clay and Jack is because I'm in denial. I have a peace that I'm not wholly sure that even I understand, but I believe that it's going to be alright. I love you for worrying, but don't."

He tightened his arm around her. "I love that you knew I was worrying, even though I hadn't asked about it. I promised you that I wouldn't push you to talk about it, but, it's hard to know if I'm striking the right note on being concerned and just being there for you."

"How about this - instead of just not mentioning it if I'm okay, I'll check in with you about it every day or with each new development. You won't even have to ask or worry."

He turned, put a finger on her chin to pull her lips to his and gave her a featherlight kiss. The hairs on her arms stood up and she felt tingles right down to her toes. She really would never tire of this. Nathan was her home - he was right where her heart belonged.

"I love you, Lizbeth." he whispered.

"I love you, too, Nathan." she whispered back.

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Early the next morning, Rosemary sat at Elizabeth's kitchen table over tea and cherry muffins while the former explained that she and Bill were heading to Benson Hills.

Rosemary eyed her over the top of her teacup. "You promise that you're alright?"

"Rosemary, I promise. Nathan is taking excellent care of me, and I've assured him that I won't shut him out if something changes. Better than that, I've assured him that I will check in with him at least once every day to let him know how I'm feeling. Sure, I'm still spitting mad over Andrew Hargreaves and his supercilious attitude, but I have every faith that he won't prevail."

"Oh, that man definitely has a supercilious attitude and he is beyond suspicious to me. I don't know what he hopes to gain, but we intend to find out!" Rosemary declared.

There was a knock on the door and Rosemary stood up. "That will likely be Bill. Thank you, and please give my thanks to Allie, for helping with Goldie while Lee is working today and tomorrow. We plan to be back by tomorrow night.

Elizabeth embraced her friend and opened the front door to find not only Bill, but Nathan and Scout as well. She looked between Nathan and Bill and deduced that this wasn't a chance meeting. Once goodbyes were said and she offered to drop Goldie off at daycare with Jack, she turned to Nathan.

"Do you have a few minutes? I've got cherry muffins and I could make you some coffee." she asked, knowing his fondness for all sweets.

"Well, you know I'm not one to pass up on sweets, but I really came here just to see you." He smiled at Goldie and leaned in to kiss Elizabeth on the cheek.

Elizabeth settled Goldie on the floor with some blocks while Nathan started the coffee preparation. She smiled to herself, happy that he already felt so at home in her kitchen.

"Did Bill have any news?" she asked, once they were seated.

Nathan shook his head. "I know why you might think so, but I would tell you. Honestly, I just finished my morning rounds and wanted to see you. If you were going to the schoolhouse today, I planned to walk with you and Jack and maybe see if you want to have lunch at the cafe."

"I'd love that." she replied. They heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Mountie Nathan!" Jack shouted as he barreled up to the table. Before the boy could say anything else, he spotted Scout lying on a towel near the front door. "Scout!" he exclaimed, then ran over to pat his furry friend.

Nathan chuckled. "I can see that I rate firmly behind a canine..."

Putting her hand over his, Elizabeth said, "Not with me, you don't." Her eyes were soft with a hint of fire in them.

He grinned and whispered softly, "Now that, I love to hear."

After muffins were had and everyone was ready to go, the four of them headed towards town.

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Nathan was just finishing up a report when Allie burst into his office. "Hi Dad! I finished up my shift at the Mercantile and Angela asked me to come over and work on a song with her. Is that okay?"

"Whoa! Slow down! Yes, it's okay. I have a favor to ask of you, though. Tomorrow evening, if you'd be willing to watch Jack at the Thornton's, I'd like to have Mrs Thornton over for dinner at our place."

Allie looked like she just bit into a lemon. "Um, of course I'll watch Jack, but do you really think it's wise to cook for her? Why would you do that to her?"

"Very funny. I can cook some things. And, Minnie has agreed to help me with the rest. Besides the wedding, we've yet to have a date with just the two of us, and you know how that ended. I want to do something different from what she's done before, um...you know."

"Ah, you mean with Mountie Jack and Mr, I mean, Governor Bouchard. I understand. If you want any help tomorrow, I don't have a shift at the Mercantile and, as long as Goldie goes in to daycare, I'll be free until I'm needed to watch Jack."

"Thank you, Sweetie. Go ahead to Angela's. Will I see you for dinner?"

Allie stopped and turned as she headed for the door. "Yep. I'll be home in time for dinner. Keep it simple, Dad. Save your energy for tomorrow! I love you."

Nathan shook his head. "I love you, too." He watched as Scout scrabbled up to follow Allie out the door. He got up and grabbed the dog's lead and handed it to her. He swore that the animal only tolerated him sometimes. It was like have Bill Avery around all the time, only with fur.

He looked at the clock, and got up to go fetch Elizabeth from the schoolhouse. He hoped to get there early. He'd gotten an apple for her from the Farmer's Market and wanted to see if she remembered the first time he'd brought her one so long ago.

xxxxxxxxx

Elizabeth was just about finished with some of her notes on lesson plans for the coming school year, when the door opened. Her heart leapt because she knew who it was. She was going to try to beat him and show up at the jail, but he apparently had the same idea.

She stood up and just watched him approach. Was it terrible that she really wanted to run and throw her arms around him? He had a hand behind his back and a definite twinkle in his eyes. Hmmm...what was he up to?

He stood before her desk and held up the apple.

She arched a brow at him...her own eyes twinkling. "I see that you're back to bribing a public official again." She walked around to stand in front of him, taking the apple from his hand and setting it on her desk. "I'll have to think of a proper punishment." She looked up at him through her lashes, a saucy grin forming on her face.

"Hmmm...you have me terrified, Mrs Thornton. Will you report me to the authorities?" He quipped, slowly moving closer to her without touching her. His eyes drifted to her mouth.

She inched closer to him, noticing where his eyes went and she gently reached a hand up around his neck to pull him closer. It was her turn to place a featherlight kiss on his lips like he'd done to her last night.

He leaned back, amazed at how mind blowing a kiss like that could be. "If that's the punishment, I think I'm going to need a LOT more apples..." he said in a low whisper.

"Yes, you are, Constable. I require a lot of apples. Now, how about that lunch?" As she turned towards the door, she hid a satisfied smile at the look on his face.

'Is it getting hot in here?' Nathan thought to himself as he turned to follow the woman of his dreams out the door, while reaching up and undoing the top button of his serge.

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Elizabeth stood in her room trying to decide which outfit to wear for her date with Nathan. The pair had decided to hold Bill and Rosemary off with any news until the following day. She knew that Rosemary was going to want to spend her evening with her baby girl and Lee after being gone almost two full days and she did not want her dinner with Nathan to be overshadowed by the past again.

She decided on a pale pink long sleeved blouse with darker pink dots and a dark pink slim fitting skirt. After a bit of touch up, she was downstairs just in time for Allie, Nathan and Scout to arrive.

Allie smiled up at her. "You look really pretty, Mrs Thornton."

"Thank you, Allie. And thanks for watching Jack."

Allie held up a few books. "It's no problem, really. I've got stories for him and one for myself for after he goes to bed. You take your time." The teen breezed by in time for Jack to notice his favorite person. Scout was right behind Allie as it seemed the girl had no intention of letting the pooch get in the way of this date.

"Allie, dinner is on the table for the two of you." She turned towards Nathan. He was wearing a light blue button down with thin white stripes and tan pants. And, of course, his signature suspenders. She drank in the sight of him, excited at the prospect of an evening with just the two of them.

At first, she was so distracted by him, that she didn't notice the bouquet of beautiful wildflowers he held in his hand.

"You do look beautiful, Mrs Thornton." He said with a smile. "But, you always do." That last bit came out barely above a whisper. When he did that, it seemed to send a most delightful shiver over her.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Constable." She replied, and in her own barely whisper, "Ever."

They had gotten to within a foot of one another, and stood there gazing into the other's eyes for who knows how long when Allie piped up. "Um, are you two gonna stand there all night or go have dinner?"

Busted - again. With awkward laughs from both of them, Nathan held out the flowers to Elizabeth. She'd barely accepted them with effusive thanks for the effort she knew he'd put into picking them, when Allie came over. "Here, I'll put them in water for you. You're dinner is getting cold."

Elizabeth giggled and Nathan rolled his eyes. "Whatever would we do without you, Allie?" He was certain he'd heard her mutter, 'You'd probably starve.', but he wasn't going to call her on it just now.

Elizabeth grabbed her wrap and Nathan took it to put it over her shoulders and the two headed down to the Grant row house in the waning daylight.

xxxxxxxxx

Nathan and Elizabeth dined on roast chicken, with potatoes, carrots and green beans. Minnie contributed a chocolate layer cake with chocolate icing for desert.

The lights were dim with a single candle in the middle of the table and flowers that Allie had picked in a short vase.

Elizabeth and Nathan moved over to the sofa. It was debated on whether or not they should go out to the porch, but they were finally alone and decided to stay inside. Plus, Nathan said he had a surprise.

"Tell me, what is it?" Elizabeth pleaded. Delight showing on her face. Romantic Nathan was a sight to behold and she was loving every single second of it.

He grinned. "Alright. Why don't I show you." He stood up and held out a hand. "Would you care to dance with me, Lizbeth?"

Her eyes grew wide and she took his hand as she stood and followed him to the middle of the room. He stepped over to a victrola and started the music. It was the same song that they'd danced to the night of the choir festival.

Her heart was fluttering in her chest as he took her right hand in his left and held it over his heart and put his other arm around her waist. Her left hand found its way to his neck where her fingers toyed with his hair.

Who cared about proper hold when a man held your in his over his heart? What could be more romantic and meaningful? She smiled softly at him. At some point, the music ended and they stayed that way for an indeterminate amount of time. Slightly swaying to a song that only the two of them heard.

Finally, Elizabeth whispered, "I love you."

Nathan whispered back in a husky voice, "I love you, too."

He pulled her to him and kissed her softly, knowing that he needed to keep ahold of himself as they were very alone. It's a strange thing to go from friends straight to 'I love you', but that's just what they did. It might be easy to get carried away by desire and he didn't ever want to disrespect this woman.

They moved back over to the sofa and sat down, Elizabeth snuggling into Nathan's side with his arm around her shoulders. She rested her head on his shoulder. He could do this every day and night and never tire of it for even a second.

Finally, Elizabeth spoke. "I have a secret.", she said softly.

He looked at her sharply. "You, what? Oh no, not another potato...", he said with a laugh.

"Ha ha, Constable. No. It's about this blouse and the last time that I actually wore it. It was a pivotal moment for me and I want you to know about it."

He turned slightly towards her. "Your blouse?" He'd seen it many times before and it fit her like a glove, but he couldn't think of anything linked to this particular garment. "Okay, if you want me to know, then I definitely want to hear it."

She blew out a breath. The vulnerability of this moment struck her hard, but it was important to share it with him. She turned towards him now, taking his other hand in hers. "The last time I wore this was last fall. It was the day of the Rock Creek hostage crisis." She watched the interest flare in his eyes.

His gaze flicked to the blouse and back to hers, not really sure where she was going with this. Sure, she'd been shifty and acted strange that day, but there'd been a lot going on. He'd written it off to that.

"I was in the Mercantile when Florence got word about a Mountie being taken hostage and shots had been fired...in Rock Creek. I immediately rushed out to go find you. You weren't in your office and then I found the telegram about Rock Creek. I panicked and ran over to the livery, hoping to find Newton in his stall, but it was empty.

"Nathan, I started to hyperventilate and Henry walked in on me. I told him...I uh..." She looked into his crystal blue eyes that were conveying love and patience and she found her nerve. " I told him that I 'couldn't do this again.' That's when we heard Ned shouting that you were back. I took off down the street and watched you while you hugged Allie. Then I slipped into the library and cried tears that I could barely understand at the time."

Nathan was speechless. He wasn't sure what to say or if he should even speak yet. He squeezed her hand in encouragement.

"Henry found me the next day and offered some unsolicited and, at the time, unwelcome advice. He told me that I should be examining how I reacted. Of course, I shut him down. But, Nathan, this was the beginning of my walls coming down. Though, I still tried to pretend they weren't for a bit."

He realized he was gripping her hand by now and he eased up a bit. "Lizbeth...I...um, I know you just shared a big secret, but can I ask you a question?"

"Of course. And, I promise not to shut you down or run away." She said with a small, reassuring smile.

"Erm...well, I guess I always assumed that you broke things off with Lucas because you didn't want to leave Hope Valley..." he trailed off, taking a breath to try to slow down his racing heart.

Her eyes widened. "Oh! And I guess that I just assumed that, in a town the size of Hope Valley, you probably already knew the truth. No, Nathan, I didn't break up with Lucas just because I didn't want to leave Hope Valley." She swallowed hard. "It was because I couldn't give him my whole heart. That's exactly what I told him. We both knew that things were off for awhile. I was determined to honor my commitment, until those walls started crumbling.

"It took me some time to admit that I hadn't been listening to my heart three years ago. When I apologized to you for letting fear get in the way, I should've been more clear about that." She moved in closer until she could feel his breath on her face. "I'm listening to it now, Nathan. It's loud and clear."

He didn't think things could get any better and then the clouds parted again. His lips hovered over hers and he said, "Thank you, Lizbeth, for being so vulnerable and sharing this. You've given me a true gift."

Their lips finally met in a slow, gentle, yet passionate kiss. They eventually pulled back, resting their foreheads together. "I love you." Nathan whispered.

"I love you, too" Elizabeth whispered back.

Arm in arm, they went out to the front porch to sit and watch the moon and the stars before he walked her home.